Tool and associated method for removing sunken post from subsurface position

ABSTRACT

A tool for use in removing a post from the ground includes a housing having a recess therein for slidably receiving the post. A hinged support arm extends from the housing into the recess, wherein the support arm is initially angled relative to the recess such that a protrusion extending from the post received within the recess causes a ramp-up movement relative to the support arm when the tool is being lowered onto the post as the protrusion impacts the support arm and a locked-in-place orientation when the support arm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool is being translated upwardly. The hinged support arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a tool for removingsunken post from a sub surface position.

BACKGROUND

Posts are driven into the ground for purposes of establishing a fencefor containment, or as part of a structure, or other generalconstruction project. Sometimes the posts are permanent in nature, meantto stay in place long term. Other times, the posts are temporary innature, installed into the subsurface, but needing removal at some laterdate. In these instances, the posts are driven into the ground, often ata depth of two (2) or more feet. The ground may be soft and more pliablewhen installed, however, after time, the posts become very challengingto remove from the ground for temporary installation.

With metal “t-posts” that are installed in the ground, removal is mostoften accomplished by wrapping a chain around the t-post and using alift or pole attached to hydraulic powered equipment to remove the postfrom the ground. This process has many significant advantages. Wrappingthe chain around the post is cumbersome, requiring an extra person towrap the chain and one to operate the equipment. Additionally, the postis often bent when being pulled up out of the ground, as the unevenforces from the chain impart a bending force onto the post. Finally, thepost will often suddenly break suction with the soil and projectile outof the ground surface, creating a dangerous situation where personscould be injured.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an improvement thataddresses the above-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form concepts thatare further described in the following detailed descriptions. Thissummary is not intended to identify key features or essential featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting thescope of the claimed subject matter.

Disclosed herein is a tool for use in removing a post from the ground.The tool includes a housing having a recess therein for slidablyreceiving the post, and a hinged support arm extending from the housinginto the recess. The support arm is initially angled relative to therecess such that a protrusion extending from the post received withinthe recess causes a ramp-up movement relative to the support arm whenthe tool is being lowered onto the post as the protrusion impacts thesupport arm, and a locked-in-place orientation when the support arm iswedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool is beingtranslated upwardly. The hinged support arm is biased into thelocked-in-place orientation.

According to one or more embodiments, the recess in the housing has amain channel for receiving a back portion of the post, and a planarsection defining the channel for receiving another portion of the post.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is biasedinto the locked-in-place orientation by a spring extending from a taboff the hinged support arm to the housing.

According to one or more embodiments, pressing of the tab imparts hingedmovement of the hinged support arm.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is biasedinto the locked-in-place orientation by a spring.

According to one or more embodiments, the housing defines an opening forreceiving a chain or other fastener to couple the tool to an equipmentfor imparting the upward translation.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm extendsbetween two opposing panels that protrude from the housing.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is carriedby a pin or fastener extending between the two opposing panels.

According to one or more embodiments, the post being worked on by thetool is a t-post.

According to one or more embodiments, the housing defines a verticallyextending support to which a chain or other fastener couples the tool toan equipment for imparting the upward translation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool installed about a post accordingto one or more embodiments disclosed herein. The tool is shown wherehinged a support is engaged against a bottom side of a protrusion of apost;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the tool installed about the post according toone or more embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 3 is a side, partial cross-section view of the tool beingtranslated down upon a post according to one or more embodimentsdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, the technical solutions in the examples of the present inventionare depicted clearly and comprehensively with reference to the figuresaccording to the examples of the present invention. Obviously, theexamples depicted here are merely some examples, but not all examples ofthe present invention. In general, the components in the examples of thepresent invention depicted and shown in the figures herein can bearranged and designed according to different configurations. Thus,detailed description of the examples of the present invention providedin the figures below are not intended to limit the scope of the presentinvention as claimed, but merely represent selected examples of thepresent invention. On the basis of the examples of the presentinvention, all of other examples that could be obtained by a personskilled in the art without using inventive efforts will fall within thescope of protection of the present invention.

A tool for use in removing a post from the ground is generallydesignated 10 and the post designated 1, a protrusion from the postdesignated 2, and a ground surface designated 3. The tool 10 includes ahousing 12. The housing 12 is shown constructed out of metal, which maybe a usual embodiment, however, the housing 12 may be constructed out ofany material and may take on many various types of construction anddimensionality. The housing 12 may define a recess 14 therein forslidably receiving the post 1. The recess 14 and associated featureswill be described in more detail later.

A hinged support arm 16 extends from the housing 12 into the recess 14.The hinged support 16 may take on any appropriate construction anddimensionality, and may embody a flat blade shape as shown, or mayembodiment more of a rod or similar shape. As will be described in moredetail later, the support arm 16 may be initially angled relative to therecess 14 such that the protrusion 2 extending from the post 1, wherethe post 1 is received within the recess 14 causes a “ramp-up” movementof an end of the support arm 16 when the tool 10 is being lowered ontothe post 1 as the protrusion 2 impacts the end of the support arm 16.The support arm 16 also a locked-in-place orientation when the supportarm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool isbeing translated upwardly. In one or more embodiments and as will bedescribed with greater detail herein, the hinged support arm 16 isbiased into the locked-in-place orientation.

A top view of the tool 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The recess 14 in thehousing 12 has a main channel 20 for receiving a back portion of thepost 1, and a planar section 22 surrounding the channel 20 for receivinganother portion of the post 1. In this manner, the recess 14 and planarsection 22 mount against the back side of most “t posts.” Due to thehinged movement of the support arm 16, a variety of sizes oft posts canbe accommodated and a larger t post will have a more verticallyextending hinged support arm 16 due to greater size required to traversethe main channel 20.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the hinged support arm 16 is biased intothe locked-in-place orientation by a spring 26. The spring 26 may be atorsional spring, or a helical spring extending from a tab 24 off thehinged support arm 16 to the housing 12. The bias of the hinged supportarm always imparts a counter-clockwise rotational force when viewed fromthe right of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1. Pressing of the tab 24imparts hinged movement of the hinged support arm 16 in the clockwisedirection in order to position the support arm 16 out of the way of theprotrusions 2 from the post 1 so that the tool can be removed after use,or re-adjusted based on a desired location of the tool 10 relative tothe post 1. As illustrated, the hinged support arm 16 extends betweentwo opposing panels 36 that protrude from the housing 12 and rotatesabout pin 40.

With further reference to FIG. 1, the housing 12 defines an opening 32for receiving a chain, cable, or other fastener 34 to couple the tool toan equipment for imparting the upward translation. The opening 32 isdefined at an end of a vertically extending support 30 that providesvertical clearance for tool 10 relative to post 1.

Operation of the tool is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the tool 10 is placed proximal post 1 such that the post 1 isreceived within recess 14 and such that the back spine of the post 1 isreceived within main channel 20. The tool 10 is then lowered as shownwith the directional arrow in FIG. 3 until an end of the hinged supportarm 16 contacts protrusion 2, at which point the hinged support arm 16pivots clockwise out of the way so that the tool 10 can continuetranslating downwardly. Once a desired downwardly position is reached,the hinged support arm 16 is placed into the locked-in place orientationby simply pulling up on the tool 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 until theend of the hinged support arm 16 engages with a bottom facing surface ofprotrusion 2 of the t post 1. At this point, further and continuedupward translation forces pulls the t post out of the ground. Removal ofthe tool 10 is accomplished by pressing onto tab 24, which rotates thesupport arm 16 out of the way of the post 1, and then lifting the tool10 upwardly off of the post 1. Alternatively, if there is no obstructionon the post 1, in some instances, the tool 10 can be removed by slidingthe tool 10 until it comes off of the bottom of the post 1.

The tool 10 is shown working on a t post 1, but can be used with avariety of structures where the end of support arm 16 “digs into” thestructure upon being translated upwardly. For example, the tool 10 canhave a larger recess area 14 that accommodates wooden stakes or posts,or more in some embodiments work on a ridged rebar structure. Forfurther reinforcement, an additional chain structure can extend from thetool 10 to further wrap around any t post or similar that is exceedinglysunk into the ground.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of theDetailed Description. While the above description describes certainembodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated,no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can bepracticed in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably inits implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subjectmatter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology usedwhen describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should notbe taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to berestricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of thedisclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, theterms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit thedisclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification,unless the above Detailed Description of The Embodiments sectionexplicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of thedisclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under theclaims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains.Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent tothose described herein can be used in the practice or testing of thepresently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, andmaterials are now described.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and“the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification,including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” caninclude a plurality of such devices, and so forth.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities ofcomponents, conditions, and so forth used in the specification andclaims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by theterm “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, thenumerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attachedclaims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desiredproperties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subjectmatter.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosedembodiments should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rathershould be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appendedclaims.

Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and thesedescriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not allembodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions aremade according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not madenecessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of thedrawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scaleof the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings.However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according tothe apparent relative scale of the drawing.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains.Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent tothose described herein can be used in the practice or testing of thepresently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, andmaterials are now described.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and“the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification,including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” caninclude a plurality of such devices, and so forth.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool for use in removing a post from theground, the tool comprising: a housing having a recess therein forslidably receiving the post; a hinged support arm extending from thehousing into the recess, wherein the support arm is initially angledrelative to the recess such that a protrusion extending from the postreceived within the recess causes a ramp-up movement relative to thesupport arm when the tool is being lowered onto the post as theprotrusion impacts the support arm, and a locked-in-place orientationwhen the support arm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion asthe tool is being translated upwardly, wherein the hinged support arm isbiased into the locked-in-place orientation.
 2. The tool according toclaim 1, wherein the recess in the housing has a main channel forreceiving a back portion of the post, and a planar section defining thechannel for receiving another portion of the post.
 3. The tool accordingto claim 1, wherein the hinged support arm is biased into thelocked-in-place orientation by a spring extending from a tab off thehinged support arm to the housing.
 4. The tool according to claim 3,wherein pressing of the tab imparts hinged movement of the hingedsupport arm.
 5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the hingedsupport arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation by a spring.6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines an openingfor receiving a chain or other fastener to couple the tool to anequipment for imparting the upward translation.
 7. The tool according toclaim 1, wherein the hinged support arm extends between two opposingpanels that protrude from the housing.
 8. The tool according to claim 7,wherein the hinged support arm is carried by a pin or fastener extendingbetween the two opposing panels.
 9. The tool according to claim 1,wherein the post being worked on by the tool is a t-post.
 10. The toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing defines a vertically extendingsupport to which a chain or other fastener couples the tool to anequipment for imparting the upward translation.